Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-7

Application 2012-0420-6, received 29 March 2012
Public hearing in Montréal, Quebec
10 September 2012

The League – Fantasy Sports TV – Specialty Category B service

The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a new specialty Category B service.

The application

1. Fight Media Inc. (Fight Media) filed an application for a broadcasting licence to operate The League – Fantasy Sports TV, a national, English-language specialty Category B service that would be devoted to fantasy sports, allowing viewers to act as owners and assume all the responsibilities associated with operating real sports franchises, and allowing viewers to create, monitor, trade and discuss players on their teams with others also playing fantasy sports. The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application

2. Fight Media is controlled by Leonard J. Asper.

3. Fight Media indicated that the service’s flagship programs would consist of studio call-in and talk shows hosted by anchors providing viewers with the opportunity to call in to discuss and seek advice on their fantasy picks and drafts. Viewers would be provided with multi-screen, real-time fantasy statistics and fantasy pool standings and rankings. Studio shows would take place prior to and after live events so that the information being provided is timely and relevant.

4. The applicant proposed to draw programming from the following program categories set out in Item 6 of Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time: 1, 2(a), 2(b), 3, 5(b), 6(a), 6(b), 7(a), 7(c), 7(d), 7(e), 8(b), 10, 11(a), 11(b), 12, 13 and 14.

5. To ensure that the proposed service would not be directly competitive with existing Category A services, the applicant indicated that it would accept the following conditions of licence:

Not more than 10% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast month shall be drawn from each of program categories 2(b), 7(a), 7(c), 7(d), 7(e) and 8(b).

Not more than 10% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast month shall be comprised of live event professional sports programming drawn from program category 6(a).

Commission’s decision

6. The Commission is satisfied that the application complies with all applicable policies, terms and conditions, including those set out in Public Notice 2000-6, Broadcasting Public Notice 2008-100, and Broadcasting Regulatory Policies 2010-786 and 2010-786-1. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Fight Media Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate the national, English-language specialty Category B service, The League – Fantasy Sports TV. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Reminder

7. The Commission reminds the applicant that distribution of this service is subject to the requirements set out in the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-7

Terms, conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for the specialty Category B service The League – Fantasy Sports TV

Terms

A licence will be issued once the applicant has satisfied the Commission with supporting documentation that the following requirements have been met:

the applicant has entered into a distribution agreement with at least one licensed distributor; and

the applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations and has provided the Commission with a launch date for the service. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 48 months from the date of this decision.

The licence will expire 31 August 2019.

Conditions of licence

1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions set out in Appendix 1 to Standard conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for Category B pay and specialty services – Corrected Appendices 1 and 2, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-786-1, 18 July 2011, as amended from time to time.

2. In regard to the nature of service:

(a) The licensee shall provide a national, English-language specialty Category B service devoted to fantasy sports, allowing viewers to act as owners and assume all the responsibilities associated with operating real sports franchises, and allowing viewers to create, monitor, trade and discuss players on their teams with others also playing fantasy sports.

(b) The programming shall be drawn exclusively from the following program categories set out in Item 6 of Schedule I to the Specialty Services Regulations, 1990, as amended from time to time:

(c) The licensee shall devote not more than 10% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast month to programming drawn from each of program categories 2(b), 7(a), 7(c), 7(d), 7(e) and 8(b).

(d) Not more than 10% of all programming broadcast during the broadcast month shall be comprised of live event professional sports programming drawn from program category 6(a).

3. The service approved hereby is designated as a Category B service.

For the purposes of the conditions of this licence, “broadcast day” refers to the 24-hour period beginning each day at 6 a.m. or any other period approved by the Commission.

Expectations

The standard expectations applicable to this licensee are set out in Appendix 1 to Standard conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for Category B pay and specialty services – Corrected Appendices 1 and 2, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-786-1, 18 July 2011, as amended from time to time.

Encouragements

The standard encouragements applicable to this licensee are set out in Appendix 1 to Standard conditions of licence, expectations and encouragements for Category B pay and specialty services – Corrected Appendices 1 and 2, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-786-1, 18 July 2011, as amended from time to time.